Back Through the Pages: Advertiser stories from years goneby

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 19 APRIL 1860

COUNTY BENCH – MASTERS AND SERVANTS

William Cripps, shepherd in the employ of Mr William Henry Attwood, of the parish of Longstock, yeoman, was summoned for leaving his service before the terms of his contract had expired, he being a yearly servant. The defendant pleaded guilty and the magistrates sentenced him to 21 days’ hard labour in Winchester Gaol.

William May, a carter in the service of Mr George Rawlins, of the parish of Bullington, was summoned for a similar offence. The defendant pleaded guilty, but promising to return to his service he was ordered to pay the costs and cautioned as to his future behaviour.

George Newman, a servant in the employ of Mr Henry Pain, of the parish of Over Wallop, yeoman, was brought up on a warrant, also charged with absconding from his service. In this case the defendant was discharged on his agreeing to return and pay the costs. (Compiler’s note: Until the passing of the Employers and Workmen Act 1875, it was a criminal offence to break a contract of work and was punishable by imprisonment. After 1875, it became a civil offence, punishable by a fine.)

SEE ALSO: Back Through The Pages: 1827 newspapers found in Willis & Son's storeroom wall

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 21 APRIL 1899

CORRESPONDENCE

Dear Sir: I should like to condemn the utter degradation of morals which can gloat over a perfectly legal meeting being disturbed and practically broken up by shouts, vulgar songs and ‘joy’ at the poisonous stench, produced by supposed defenders of the faith, and this by almost every writer opposed to Mr Kensit’s views. Church is supposed to stand for Tory and Tory is supposed to stand for law and order but if ever there were a contradiction of these maxims, it was found in that meeting and in the letters to this newspaper approving the conduct of opponents. It is easy to see, for anyone who can see a hole through a ladder, that such militant tactics lead not to conviction, peace and success but to anarchy – that dreaded word that seems to be quite in keeping with Church and Tory policy. Such conduct by any other party towards its opponents would be utterly repudiated. Yours truly, A Radical.

READ MORE: Back Through The Pages: Report from 1924 of first Andover Carnival

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 18 APRIL 1924

OVER WALLOP – A MARQUIS AND BOXING

An outstanding feature of the Amateur Boxing Championship last week was the progress made by the Marquis of Clydesdale who was only ousted in the semi-final of the middle weight after a most gallant display. He was beaten by an army sergeant with a sharp jolt in the second round resulting in two teeth being dislodged. The young boxer’s mother, the Duchess of Hamilton, was present on Wednesday, watching events with evident pride. The Marquis is now in Scotland, celebrating his coming-of-age and will be at Oxford for another year, so we may yet hear more of him and his sporting prowess. He is a burly fighter but has faults in that he keeps his head too much down and his arms swinging wide. Neither his trainer Dick Smith, nor Johnny Brown have been able to change this style. But the Marquis is a modest lad who says that boxing is the one sport where rich and poor alike meet on an equal footing. No doubt, the wide district embracing the Wallops, Newton Toney, Grateley and Cholderton will follow the fortunes of the young Marquis with more than ordinary interest.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 22 APRIL 1949

FIRE AT PARSONS AND HART

Dozens of people thronged the pavements in the High Street on Tuesday morning after seeing smoke coming from out of the ground-floor shop doorways and first-floor windows of Messrs Parsons and Hart, drapers. The Andover Fire Units quickly got to the root of the trouble, a first-floor storeroom at the back of the premises where wrapping paper and other packing materials had caught fire. The outbreak was discovered by a cleaner before it reached serious proportions. Meanwhile, despite the smoke-filled stores, the assistants carried on serving the various customers.

FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO – FRIDAY 22 APRIL 1977

MUSEUM SITE FOR ANDOVER – PATIENCE STILL NEEDED

Andover will get a museum after all – but may have to wait until finance is available. The site earmarked is the old Grammar School headmaster’s house in Church Close. At last week’s meeting of the county council’s Recreation Committee the first steps towards saving the Grade II listed building were taken. The County Museums Director, Mr Ken Barton, told the committee the house was built in 1742 with later additions and was owned by the county council. So far, £700 has been spent making it watertight but it will cost between £20,000 and £30,000 for complete restoration. It had been a fine house with panelled rooms and an impressive staircase. Mr Barton said Andover Archaeological Society would be prepared to move into the upper part of the building and help towards its improvement. Max Dacre, chairman of the Society, said ‘we can move in and make the top floor our headquarters and at last have some storage space, while the plan is in line with government policy of local organisations using voluntary labour to provide the whole community with a benefit. This should be of interest to everyone and we hope to see a museum here in about five years.